HC Deb 01 April 1953 vol 513 cc1191-2
16. Mr. Shinwell

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the agreement recently come to between him and the United States Government for consultation on all aspects of Far Eastern policy, he will make urgent representations to that Government with regard to the unwisdom of training Chinese Nationalist troops in amphibian warfare, which can only denote a possible attack on the Chinese mainland and prejudice the efforts of both Governments to reach an armistice in Korea.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

No, Sir. I see no cause for Her Majesty's Government to intervene in this matter. I do not accept the implications of the latter part of the right hon. Gentleman's Question.

Mr. Shinwell

If the allegations contained in the Question are accurate, namely, that Chinese Nationalist troops in Formosa are being trained in amphibian warfare by American officers, why is there not the consultation which was promised some time ago by the Prime Minister in all matters relating to Far Eastern policy?

Mr. Lloyd

This training has been going on for some time. The President of the United States has said that his new orders to the Seventh Fleet did not involve any aggressive intent on the part of the United States. Her Majesty's Government have repeatedly pointed out that in their view few adventures could be less fruitful or successful than the launching of these Nationalist troops on the mainland of China. I think the views of Her Majesty's Government are perfectly well known.

Mr. Shinwell

What I want to know — and perhaps the right hon. and learned Gentleman would be good enough to address his mind to this question— is whether there was any consultation about this matter? Is it not obvious that there must be some aggressive intent, otherwise these troops would not be trained by American officers?

Mr. Lloyd

I cannot say whether or not there was consultation on this specific matter about the training of these specific troops—

Mr. Shinwell

The right hon. and learned Gentleman ought to know.

Mr. Lloyd

— but the general relationship between Chiang Kai-shek's troops and possible activities on the mainland of China is well known.

Mr. Shinwell

Do we understand that the right hon. and learned Gentleman, although Minister of State in the Foreign Office and largely responsible for foreign affairs, is not able to tell the House whether there was consultation on this matter, although consultation on all matters affecting foreign policy in the Far East was promised by the Prime Minister some time ago?

Mr. Lloyd

The Question on the Order Paper did not ask me whether there had been consultation about this matter, but whether Her Majesty's Government would make representations with regard to the matter, and I said, "No, Sir." Regarding the other matter, I have definitely given a clear and honest answer, according to my own knowledge of the matter.

Mrs. Castle

Is it not a fact that the Seventh Fleet was withdrawn in order to enable this attack to be made, and that the attack cannot possibly be made without considerable American help, not only in training but in materials? Ought not this matter to be raised in the United Nations, as contrary to U.N. policy?

Mr. Lloyd

This matter was debated in the House.